A man was sentenced on April 9 to five years and ten months in federal prison after pleading guilty to attempting to carjack a vehicle at gunpoint while the driver’s wife and children were inside, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois.
The incident took place on Feb. 19, 2023, at a gas station in Dolton, Illinois. Authorities said Javon Stingley, along with Joseph Smith and Michael Banks, approached an off-duty Cook County Sheriff’s Deputy who was standing next to his Dodge Challenger. The men carried loaded handguns and demanded the deputy’s vehicle. One of them reportedly said, “I’ll shoot you, don’t move,” before taking the deputy’s service weapon from his waistband. The deputy’s wife and children managed to escape from the car before the men tried to get inside but ultimately decided not to take it and left in their own vehicle.
Stingley, age 28 of Midlothian, Illinois, was arrested in October 2024 and has been held in law enforcement custody since then. He pleaded guilty last year in federal court to an attempted carjacking charge.
Michael Banks, age 23 of Chicago, admitted his involvement as part of a plea agreement that included other carjackings and firearm offenses he committed. Banks is scheduled for sentencing by Judge Sara L. Ellis on June 24 at 10:15 a.m.
Joseph Smith, age 34 of Hammond, Indiana, has pleaded not guilty both to this attempted carjacking charge as well as other related charges involving carjackings and firearms offenses; he is awaiting trial.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; with Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Zenner representing the government.
